It’s official: Summer is over! Labor Day weekend typically marks the grand finale of summer, ushering in a last wave of movie enthusiasts before the quieter months of September and October settle in.
This summer, the cinematic excitement has gradually waned since the debut of “Barbenheimer” on that unforgettable July 21st. However, the holiday weekend brought a new contender to the scene: Sony’s The Equalizer 3, featuring the incomparable Denzel Washington in the role of the retired government assassin, Robert McCall. Washington’s illustrious career spanning 42 years boasts an impressive repertoire of 48 films that have collectively raked in a staggering $4.1 billion at the global box office.
Emerging as the undisputed champion of the weekend, The Equalizer 3 took the #1 spot and secured a solid $34.5 million in box office earnings. While this figure may have fallen slightly short of pre-release expectations, one can’t help but wonder if the numbers might have been more robust had Washington and his co-star, Dakota Fanning, been able to embark on their customary promotional tour. Both the Writer’s strike and the actor’s strike have put a damper on their usual promotional efforts.
The Equalizer franchise has consistently delivered strong box office performances, with the latest installment, The Equalizer 3, maintaining this tradition. The original The Equalizer, released on September 26, 2014, debuted with an opening of $34.1 million, ultimately accumulating a domestic total of $101.5 million and a worldwide total of $192.3 million. Its sequel, The Equalizer 2, premiered on July 20, 2018, with an opening of $36.0 million, ultimately reaching a domestic total of $102.1 million and a worldwide total of $190.4 million. Now, The Equalizer 3, released on September 1, 2023, has joined the ranks with an opening weekend of $34.5 million, continuing the franchise’s trend of solid box office performances.
In The Equalizer 3, we find Robert McCall (Washington) embarking on a new chapter of his life in the serene landscapes of Italy, yearning for a quieter existence. However, the tranquility is shattered when he stumbles upon a dark secret: his newfound friends are under the sinister control of a local crime boss. Driven by his unwavering sense of justice, McCall takes it upon himself to shield his companions from the clutches of the mafia.
The film is directed by Antoine Fuqua, who has a stellar track record with Washington, having collaborated on the earlier Equalizer movies, The Magnificent 7 and Training Day, the latter of which earned Fuqua a coveted Academy Award for Best Picture in 2001. Fuqua has declared that The Equalizer 3 will conclude the series on a high note in terms of both quality and box office success.
Despite a somewhat subdued Labor Day weekend opening due to limited star promotions, it’s worth highlighting the film’s favorable reception. With Rotten Tomatoes scores of 73% from critics and an impressive 94% from audiences, these are the highest ratings achieved within the trilogy.
In other box office news, Barbie held the #2 spot for the second consecutive weekend, showcasing its staying power with a mere 30% drop in ticket sales. After seven weeks, Barbie has solidified its status as Warner Bros.’ highest-grossing film EVER, amassing a staggering $609.5 million domestically and a jaw-dropping $1.38 billion worldwide. This achievement not only crowns it as the top movie of 2023 but also ranks it as the 15th highest-grossing film in Hollywood history.
Meanwhile, Blue Beetle maintained its grip on third place for the second week in a row, collecting $7.3 million while experiencing a 40% drop in earnings. The film’s domestic total now stands at $56.6 million, with projections suggesting it will soon cross the $100 million mark worldwide. As the curtain falls on the DC Extended Universe, Warner Bros. and DC are gearing up for a fresh start under the leadership of James Gunn and Peter Safran, promising an exciting array of ten upcoming DC projects, beginning with Superman: Legacy, set to hit theaters on July 11, 2025, as part of the Chapter One: Gods and Monsters saga.
Gran Turismo: Based on a True Story, after a successful first-place debut last weekend, slid to 4th place with $6.6 million, experiencing a significant 62% drop in earnings. Gran Turismo maintains an impressive 98% audience rating on Rotten Tomatoes, poised to be one of 2023’s hidden gems. After earning $28.7 million domestically in ten days, it is projected to reach a final tally of $45 million domestically and $115 million worldwide.
Oppenheimer continues its remarkable run, securing the #5 spot at the box office in its seventh weekend with an additional $5.5 million and a 33% drop in earnings from the previous weekend. Christopher Nolan’s WWII historical drama has already etched its name as the seventh highest-grossing R-rated movie of all time. The summer of 2023 will forever remember the “Barbenheimer” phenomenon it created. As awards season approaches, Oppenheimer is expected to resurface in theaters, making it a leading contender in upcoming awards broadcasts.
Paramount’s Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: Mutant Mayhem took the #6 spot at the box office and opened in six new markets this session as it continues staggered rollout, earning $4.7 million domestic.
In its second weekend in theaters, MGM’s teen comedy Bottoms catapulted itself into the box office top ten list, securing the #7 spot. This achievement came on the heels of an impressive expansion across North America, with the film now showing 715 screens, which is quite the leap from its modest 10-theater opening just last weekend. Audiences flocked to theaters, contributing to an estimated $3 million in earnings over the three-day weekend and a total of $3.6 million for the four-day Labor Day holiday period.
WB’s Meg 2: The Trench chomped on another $2.9 at the box office in its fourth week in theaters, taking the #8 spot after suffering a 39% drop in ticket sales. Universal’s The Strays dropped down to #9 in its third weekend in theaters, earning $2.5 million and experiencing a 40% drop in ticket sales at the box office.
A4’s Talk To Me, the low-budget breakout sensation from the talented Australian brothers, and popular YouTubers turned first-time filmmakers, Danny and Michael Philippou, has earned its place in cinematic history, proudly claiming the title of the highest-grossing horror picture for A24 ever, amassing an impressive estimated total of $44.6 million over the course of the four-day holiday weekend on 1,075 screens. This accomplishment sees it surpassing the previous record held by Hereditary with its $44.1 million earnings.
The film burst onto the scene with a bang back in late July, establishing itself as A24’s most noteworthy debut since Ari Aster‘s acclaimed 2018 release. Now, in its sixth week at the domestic box office, Talk To Me continues to captivate audiences, holding onto the top ten list by placing #10 at the box office with $1.76 million in weekend earnings and $2.24 million over the extended four-day holiday period.
REELated:
The Top 10
1. The Equalizer 3 (Sony) NEW – Cinemascore: A; Metacritic: 57; Est. budget: $70 million
$34,500,000 in 3,965 theaters; PTA (per theater average): $8,701; Cumulative: $34,500,000
2. Barbie (Warner Bros.) Week 7; Last weekend #2
$10,625,000 (-30%) in 3,586 (-150) theaters; PTA: $2,963; Cumulative: $609,509,000
3. Blue Beetle (Warner Bros.) Week 3; Last week #3
$7,270,000 (-40%) in 3,316 (-555) theaters; PTA: $2,192; Cumulative: $56,574,000
4. Gran Turismo (Sony) Week 2; Last weekend #1
$6,550,000 (-62%) in 3,856 (no change) theaters; PTA: $1,699; Cumulative: $23,661,000
5. Oppenheimer (Universal) Week 7; Last weekend #4
$5,520,000 (-33%) in 2,543 (-329) theaters; PTA: $1,699; Cumulative: $308,551,000
6. Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: Mutant Mayhem (Paramount) Week 5; Last weekend #5; also on PVOD
$4,775,000 (-34%) in 2,955 (-190) theaters; PTA: $1,616; Cumulative: $103,224,000
7. Bottoms (MGM) Week 2; Last weekend #19
$3,000,000 (+552%) in 715 (+705) theaters; PTA: $4,206; Cumulative: $3,731,000
8. Meg 2: The Trench (WB) Week 4; Last weekend #6; also on PVOD
$2,940,000 (-39%) in 2,371 (-561) theaters; PTA: $1,240; Cumulative: $78,422,000
9. The Strays (Universal) Week 3; Last weekend #7
$2,520,000 (-49%) in 2,486 (-746) theaters; PTA: $1,014; Cumulative: $20,731,000
10. Talk to Me (A24) Week 6; Last weekend #10
$1,764,000 (-23%) in 1,075 (-246) theaters; PTA: $1,641; Cumulative: $44,103,000
The box office this weekend in U.S. and Canadian theaters paints a picture of resurgence, with a total earnings of $90.2 million—a significant leap from the $55.9 million collected during the same period last year. It’s worth noting that the first National Cinema Day in 2022 coincided with Saturday, September 3rd, a day that witnessed no new wide releases. The fan favorite of 2022, Top Gun: Maverick, managed to secure the top spot with earnings of $6.0 million during that weekend, underlining its enduring appeal.
